Johnson expects O. Smith, Hill to play for Georgia Tech
Greetings-
Some notes from the Paul Johnson news conference. Nothing terribly newsy except for some injury updates. Onward.
1. Johnson doesn’t think Georgia’s playing in the SEC championship game will have any impact on the game. “I don’t think anybody’s going to be overlooking anybody in a rivalry game,” he said. “I think both sides will be ready to play.”
2. Johnson said that wide receiver Tyler Melton is “probably playing his best football the last two, three games.” Melton has seven catches in the past three games and has continued his effective downfield blocking. Johnson said he hasn’t made a point to get Melton the ball.
“It’s just kind of the nature of what happens,” he said. “But when the ball’s gone his way, he’s made a couple of nice catches and come down with it.”
3. There hasn’t been much talk amongst the team about possible bowls.
Players “know if they can keep winning, the priority will change,” he said, speaking of Tech’s appeal to bowl committees. “But we really don’t ask the players where they want to go. It just doesn’t work like that.”
4. Johnson on various injured players: Orwin Smith (”He’s good to go, I think”), Preston Lyons (”Good to go”), Stephen Hill (”I think so”).
“We’ll know more after practice today, but we’re assuming we’re going to have all those guys.”
5. Johnson on Georgia tight end Orson Charles: “We just have to watch the guy, but you can’t do anything special for him. The thing he can do is something that wide receivers can do. He can get downfield. He’s got good hands, he’s a good player, but we’ve played against other good tight ends that are good players.”
6. Johnson on what he is thankful for: “I’ve got a fairly lucrative job that helps support my family. I’m thankful for health. For the most part, our family’s healthy. I’ve got a zillion things to be thankful for on that line. … There’s 120 guys that get to do what I do. That’s not that many. There’s a lot of people that would love to have my job. I’m fortunate enough to have it.”
7. Johnson on the defense: “I don’t know that the defense is any different than the team as a whole. It’s been up and down. Certainly, we haven’t played with the kind of consistency that we’d like. I don’t know that you’re ever going to be satisfied until you’re holding people to no points or 10 points. It’s always a work in progress. I think we’ve played in spurts. We’ve done enough to win eight games. We’ll see if we win some more.”
An answer to a follow-up: “I think Coach (Al) Groh would be the first to tell you we’re not as far along as we’d like to be, but at the same time, we’ve played good enough to win eight games. It’s kind of a mixed bag.”
8. On interaction with Georgia fans: “People feel compelled to tell me they’re Georgia fans when I see them. That’s about it. It’s fairly cordial. They’ll come up (and say), ‘Hey, Coach, I’m a Georgia fan.’ O.K., that’s great. That’s usually about the extent of it.”
He went on to say that he thinks most fans on both sides are fairly cordial and not obnoxious but on both sides there’s a small minority that are.
Thanks for reading. I’ll have practice notes in the evening. And thanks for being respectful (by and large). Let’s keep it up. Again – disrespectful or obscene posts won’t be tolerated.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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195 comments Add your comment
T-Square
November 22nd, 2011
3:28 pm
DawginLex – I’ve trolled this board enough to know that you’re fairly decent, and I respect you for that. But respectfully shut it. We always choke when people predict us to win.
THWG
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm
Nah you don’t. After the UK.UGA game in 2008, I said Tech would run all over us and y’all did.(dang Willie Martinez)
I think this will be a great game but with no running game, the playing field flips to Tech’s favor.
I talk football dude. i don’t troll.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
3:33 pm
DawginLex,
I would love to agree with you but Tech hasn’t played press coverage all year! It looks Tech has the DBs to play press but for some reason CAG won’t let them. That has beena source of major frustration for me all year long. Watching the Duke game Saturday all I saw was timing and crossing routes with Tech’s DBs playing 8 yards off. The way you disrupt a short passing game is with press coverage and yet Tech sat back in the bend don’t break scheme. If Tech sits back against GA it’s going to be a long day without pressure on Murray.
T-Square
November 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm
DawginLex – I just meant that I trolled to laugh quietly to myself at the stupid fights that get started. I haven’t watched Georgia play that much this year, but I’m hoping my streak continues. I’ve watched two games, and they lost both of them…;) Seriously though, I saw some highlights from the UK game, and I have to say they didn’t look all that good. Hope for their sake they play better than that. Hope for our sake they don’t.
THWG
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm
Lex is sandbagging us and channeling his inner Larry Munson!
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:36 pm
ol jacket
I thought you put someone man up on Watkins versus Clemson??
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:37 pm
George stein
I have to honor his memory!!!!!!!!
gtfanfrom1951
November 22nd, 2011
3:37 pm
Just beat UGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
3:37 pm
You’re doing a helluva job!
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:38 pm
george
I actually believe what I wrote.
different than Munson, I think.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
3:39 pm
DawginLex, nope they sat back in their zone but did close quickly. Oft time they had Watkins in an over/under zone set but they did not press.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
3:39 pm
All I can hear now is Lex telling his buddies how big and strong we are and how UGA has three miles to go for a first down (when they’re faced with 2nd and 3).
Born2Buzz
November 22nd, 2011
3:39 pm
DawginLex, thanks for your classy posts all year. You are one of the damn good dogs.
Ol’JacketFan, I agree. But if Lex is right and Crowell and Thomas are both out and UGA is on their 4th string RB then that is a huge factor.
No matter what happens Saturday it has been a good year. Our losses to UVA and VT don’t look too bad now. The UM loss still stings. A win over the Dogs will make for a great year. I will be there dressed in White and Gold and cheering the brave and bold.
Go Jackets.
BigTimeTechFan
November 22nd, 2011
3:41 pm
UGA’s TE is better then any of Tech’s, Tech is better at every other position on the field.
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:41 pm
“How are we going to stop that option thing with only 3 days to prepare and all our players eating big turkey dinners??”
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
3:42 pm
You’re killing me, Lex.
SatchelBuzz
November 22nd, 2011
3:43 pm
Should be a good one,..can’t wait. I’ll say this regarding Uga’s 9 game win streak,….good for them. That said,..the team they’ll face on Saturday will be the best team they’ve played since week no. 2. Think about that,….just saying.
THWG!!!
BigTimeTechFan
November 22nd, 2011
3:44 pm
I hope Orwin Smith stiff arms a UGA DB again, that was sweet to watch
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:44 pm
“Don’t they run for like a gazillion yards a game?” “They scored 70 something on someone. We don’t have any running backs, not one. We made Kentucky look like LSU and this one is at their place.”
The Institute
November 22nd, 2011
3:45 pm
Umm best team since week ONE. SC blows. #80 offense in america.
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
3:46 pm
Institute
SC’s defense is very good and clemson better be on their A game or they will get whipped.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
3:49 pm
LOL@Dawg………………….damn I hearing Larry Munson’s voice in my head!!!!!!!!!!
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
3:49 pm
Ha! You should apply for whoever is doing the broadcasts now, Lex.
GT FAN IN PA
November 22nd, 2011
3:53 pm
Very nice Lex- spot on with Larry- even as a Tech fan I loved hearing him on the radio.
CPJ4ever
November 22nd, 2011
3:53 pm
Is that Supersize guy making fun of Paul Johnson because he looks like a troll!!?? Dude, he cannot help it, take it easy! He is a great coach and will beat UGA on Saturday.
CPJ4ever
November 22nd, 2011
3:55 pm
Oops, mis-read Supersize’s posts. He is saying UGA fans are Trolls…my fault. I still dont get it but okay.
T3
November 22nd, 2011
4:01 pm
UGA has ZERO chance of beating LSU.
Its laughable and delusional to even think that holding Crowell out will make
any difference at all against LSU.
If Trent Richardson couldnt even get consistent yards against LSU,
then Crowell is dead-meat against LSU.
Dont kid yourselves. UGA and GT are “loading up” for this game.
I expect to see CMR play everyone that can even limp onto the field, including Samuels.
So will CPJ.
This game, like many of the recent ones will be won or lost on turnovers.
No turnovers by GT Offense = GT win.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
4:02 pm
DPJ4ever, what the hell did you read to come up with an idea like that?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
4:03 pm
oops, I meant CPJ4ever.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
4:03 pm
Lex, that was a STUNNING admission by you, but I have come to expect nothing less than honest, informed opinions from you. You are a GOOD DAWG!!!
Gold & White
November 22nd, 2011
4:14 pm
“Only a small minority of UGA fans are obnoxious”??? I sure wish a few of the majority would move to my neck of the woods then!!! I am surrounded by the minority even within my own family!!!!!
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
DILex have you started to get to the Kentucky bball games?
Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.
Hope your daughter is still kicking butt in Pharm school.
Write it down.
November 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
Believe it or not, Saturday’s game depends more on GT than UGA. If Tech executes on offense and plays smash-mouth defense, then game over. If Tech comes out and plays grab-@ss, then the mutts bark for another year.
Well, they’re gonna bark, year-round, regardless of the outcome.
Remember folks, there aren’t but about 2 trolls on this blog. They just keep changing their names. Based on their post times, neither of them has a job.
Mutts, keep the bus warm.
THWG
DawginLex
November 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
Haven’t been to any yet but I am going to a couple.
Happy Thanksgiving
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
4:17 pm
DILexsorry…..started going to……….
GP79
November 22nd, 2011
4:23 pm
Thanks to know that the Reverand owns me! I did not know that until Spike told me. What else do i not know Spike? Please enlighten me with your knowledge. In fact enlighten all of us. Come sit next to me Saturday and tell me in person. If you are man enough!
DawginLex is......
November 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
…absolutelyu correct, even while channeling his inner Munson – UGA is totally without a running game, and GT will have better corners with which to neutralize the UGA receivers, especially if Murray plays like he did last week (if he plays like he did against AU then all bets are off, even with no running game).
And, sorry Ol’Jacket, but Tech did press cover Clemson – they had to since they blitzed a lot so that Boyd did not have time to re-think anything. You are probably remembering the endzone pick and thinking that the DB was off Watkins – the truth was that he was pressing and when Watkins stopped, the DB kept backing up and Boyd just tossed it up there thinking (rightly so) that Watkins could outjump the DB – that made it look like zone, but Watkins read the DB backing up and cut his route off, which Boyd did not read – end of game…
And, Clemson will get absolutely blitzed by USCeast – the Tigers have totally lost all focus and are just playing out the season – they would be top 5, maybe even 4, if they had just played with any kind of interest last week against NC State – llok at VT, they are #5 and have played weaker schedule than even UGA…
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
We’re going to have to play with the same passion that we had against Clemson…if this happens, I believe we have a good shot at winning on Saturday. If this doesn’t happen…we’d need a LOT to go our way! Hope everyone enjoys a fantastic Thanksgiving! GO TECH!!!
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
Hmmmmmm if Tech did play press against Watkins/Clemson it begs the question as to why they’ve not played it any in their other games. I may have to go back and look at the game again but I think I would have recalled Tech playing press. An under/over zone can appear to be a press set if you’re not watching the corner at the snap, not saying that Tech didn’t press but if they did it was the first, and so far, the last time they’ve done it this year.
Write it down.
November 22nd, 2011
4:35 pm
By the way, both sides need to stop this crap about offensive ranking and defensive ranking.
“Our offense is ranked #…” “Their defense is ranked #…” Blah, blah, blah…
Our offense put up big numbers against some crap defenses. Their defense stopped some crap offenses.
The team that wins is the one who shows up to play. If Tech can score a few times, then Paul Johnson will resort to his patented ‘anaconda’ maneuver and squeeze the life out of them.
Mutts, keep the bus warm.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
4:37 pm
In other words, the CPJ death march if Tech get ahead
reebok
November 22nd, 2011
4:38 pm
If Crowell can’t go, I would expect Coach Richt to re-instate young Mr Thomas.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
4:44 pm
OJF, I hope we see a couple of those CPJ Death Marches. They will drive the mutt fans crazy
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
4:46 pm
Supersize, we’ve seen those 16-17 play drives and they drive every opponent nuts! When you just can’t get your D off the field it does bad things to your psyche
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
4:47 pm
Of course there is something to be said about those 1 play, 70 plus yard drives as well!
T-Square
November 22nd, 2011
4:50 pm
I think my personal favorite this season was the one play, 95 yard drive against Kansas(?). I always love seeing that. My favorite drive of them all was the opening drive of the 3rd quarter a couple of years ago in Athens. That was sweet.
THWG
old gold and white in my veins
November 22nd, 2011
4:54 pm
Lexdawg,
A quick question. I respect your fairness and you seem to be of good football knowledge. Most dawgfans that I know seem soured on Crowell, even before his drug suspension, seems like he has no heart. Some of these people have ties to the program and all have seen him play at least twice this year. As a casual observer, he does not seem that durable or he just does not play hurt. Was he injury prone in high school? Thanks for your thoughts.
GT Anchorage
November 22nd, 2011
4:56 pm
DawginLex, you give too much credit to our defense. When we face a large offensive line, we tend to give up big gains. See Virginia. They ran all over us. I don’t know the average weight for UV’s OL, but I imagine it was quite a bit less than what UGA has. I see UGA gaining about 200 on the ground. If we can keep up with the scoring, I think GT will win this one close though.
JM
November 22nd, 2011
4:57 pm
I’m glad to hear the players will be healthy and ready to play this Saturday.
HJey, old gold......
November 22nd, 2011
5:00 pm
…yes, IC was injury prone in HS, I believe he only played half his senior year in Columbus – he is a lot like Jasper Sanks (and Tech folks can only hope he plays like Mr Sanks – LOL) though he has shown more flashes of WHY he was so highly recruited – however, even during summer workouts he was a bust on the field as far as conditioning went, yet he has that “it” factor as a runner that makes everyone keep hoping that he will mature…
And, you are correct in that the kid has no heart, or character – only time will tell if he matures or turns out like Jasper…